The Scott Arboretum is not defined as a conservation-based organization, however, our collections do include many specimens from across the globe which are on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This list provides taxonomic, conservation status, and distribution information on plants that are facing a high risk of global extinction.

We have several specimens of globally threatened plants growing at the Scott Arboretum. Closely related to our native tulip tree is Liriodendron chinense. At the Sharples Dining Hall is a relatively young specimen with leaves very similar to Liriodendron tulipifera, but almost twice the size. While our native tulip trees are very upright as young specimens, the Chinese tuliptree is broadly pyramidal. In the wild, this species is found in montane forests in the Yangtze River valley extending south into northern Vietnam.

Endemic to northern Florida is Magnolia macrophylla subsp. ashei. This is found from Leon and Wakulla Counties westward to Santa Rosa county in the Florida Panhandle. Like Magnolia macrophylla, big-leaf magnolia, M. ashei has very large leaves, however the stature of the plant is much smaller. Flowering in late May it has very large white fragrant flowers over one foot in diameter with a purple splotch in the center. At Old Tarble there is a specimen that is twelve feet tall with an equal spread.

In addition to the aforementioned species, the Arboretum plans to add the following globally threatened species to our collections: Magnolia sinensis, M. wilsonii, M. dawsoniana and M.biondii.